General Answers:

What is child sponsorship?
Child sponsorship is a unique kind of program that connects one child in need with one compassionate person like you! Becoming a sponsor means giving children the chance to grow up healthy, educated and safe – forever changing their life and future. You just might find that it changes you, too.

When you become a sponsor, Save the Children does not give your donation directly to your sponsored child, rather we combine your monthly support with the support of other sponsors to help support projects in your sponsored child’s community – creating a “ripple effect” of positive change throughout the entire sponsorship community.

Individual child sponsorship gives you the opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship between yourself and your sponsored child, while your monthly support benefits the children in your child’s community as well. Individual sponsors have the opportunity to communicate with their sponsored child via email or postal mail, and may even visit their child and his or her community.

Lifeline sponsorship is where you contribute monthly support to a sponsorship community and receive information and updates about a single child, but there is no one-on-one relationship or communication. This is a great option if you’re interested in learning how an individual child benefits from sponsorship, but you aren’t able to or interested in corresponding with a child.

Program sponsorship is where you contribute monthly support to our programs in a specific sponsorship country. Program sponsors receive updates and success stories on our overall results in the country, but have no individual child communication or updates. This is a great option if you’re interested in supporting sponsorship programs, but you aren’t interested in receiving individual child updates.

You can sign up for individual child sponsorship online here. If you’re interested in lifeline or program sponsorship, please contact your donor services team at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Why should I sponsor with Save the Children?
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the U.S. and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we’re always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We develop pioneering programs that deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

With an ambitious vision and a century of leading expertise, we’re one of the most highly regarded charities in the world. We are consistently recognized for our proven program responsibility and fiscal accountability, with nearly 9 out of every 10 dollars going to programs for children and families in need. We earn high ratings from independent services like Charity Navigator and Charity Watch, and we are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

When you become a Save the Children sponsor, you can be sure you’re joining a growing, global community dedicated to doing whatever it takes for children, transforming their lives and the future we share.

How does sponsorship work on the ground?
Save the Children selects communities that will benefit from child sponsorship programs based on need. Our local staff work hand-in-hand with these communities to develop and manage child sponsorship programs. All children are offered the opportunity to participate, in consultation with their families or caregivers. When a child receives a caring sponsor like you, he or she is notified by our local program staff.

Will my sponsorship connect me with an actual child?
Yes. As an individual child sponsor, you have the opportunity to choose a specific child (by region, country, gender and/or age) and to communicate and establish a friendship with your child via mail or email. While you build this one-on-one relationship, your monthly support combined with support from other caring sponsors will benefit the children in your sponsored child’s community.

What happens once I decide to sponsor a child?
About 10 days after you start your child sponsorship, you’ll receive a welcome kit, with everything you need to begin your sponsor relationship, including a photo and information about your child, helpful letter writing tips, a postcard to send to your sponsored child, and other resources.

Soon after, usually within 4-6 weeks, you’ll receive a letter or drawing from your sponsored child. Then you can continue communicating! How often you correspond is up to you, although we recommend no more than three to four letters a year. You can also easily communicate with your child via an email through your online account.

You’ll receive a new photo of your sponsored child, an annual update report and ongoing print, email and mobile updates about the impact of your sponsorship on the community. You can also keep track of the progress happening in your sponsored child’s community through your online account, which will be periodically updated with photos, videos and country program information.

How will I be kept updated on my sponsored child and his or her community?
Each year, you will receive an annual update designed to let you know how your sponsored child is progressing and the impact your sponsorship support is having in his or her community. Along with your update, you can look forward to receiving a new photo of your child each year.

In addition, you’ll also receive periodic print, email and mobile updates from us to keep you fully informed about how your sponsorship is making a difference.

These updates are our way of helping you connect with your sponsored child, so you can see how your sponsorship commitment is transforming the life and future or your child and his or her entire community.

If you’re a program sponsor, you’ll receive ongoing program and country updates.

How long will my sponsorship last?
Child sponsorship is a voluntary, ongoing contribution. You decide how long you’re able to help. Many sponsors have supported our work for more than 15 years, and some as many as 50 years!

Can a child have more than one sponsor?
When you sponsor a child outside the U.S., you will be matched with a child who lives in one of our international sponsorship communities. Due to higher program costs in the U.S., children in our U.S. locations can be sponsored by up to two sponsors. If you sponsor a U.S. child who has another sponsor, you’re still able to have a one-on-one relationship with your child through writing letters.

For lifeline sponsors, your sponsored child will likely have multiple sponsors, because he or she serves as a representative child for the community. There is no one-on-one relationship or communication with the child, although you will receive regular updates.

How do I sponsor another child?
After experiencing the joy and seeing the impact of child sponsorship, many sponsors want to help even more children grow up healthy, educated and safe, so they can achieve their dreams. Sponsoring multiple children is a great way to spread your support around the world. All you have to do is select another child waiting for your support. Click here to sponsor an additional child.

Can I sponsor my child's siblings?
Many siblings are also in need and would benefit from sponsorship. To find out whether your sponsored child’s siblings are available for sponsorship, please contact your donor services team at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Can I adopt a child through Save the Children?
Our work and resources are solely focused on helping children grow up healthy, educated and safe within their own communities. If you’d like to consider adoption, we suggest you visit the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov and click “Learn about Adopting a Child to and from the U.S.”

Can I give a gift sponsorship?
We encourage you to share the gift of child sponsorship. When you check out, simply select your child sponsorship as a gift sponsorship and enter your gift recipient’s information. Your gift recipient will receive a card and welcome kit, including information about the sponsored child you selected. There’s no better way to share the joys of child sponsorship than by letting someone you care about experience the impact firsthand.

Can I set up a sponsorship as part of my organization?
Absolutely! Many organizations choose to make child sponsorship a highlight of their corporate philanthropy program. Sponsorship is an exceptional way to engage employees and build goodwill for your company, while improving the lives and futures of children. For more information, contact Cara Kenefick at ckenefick@savechildren.org.

Can I cancel my sponsorship?
Sponsorship is an entirely voluntary, ongoing relationship that supports our critical work with vulnerable children around the world. There is no contract involved, and you can cancel at any time. We understand that financial situations can and do change. However, because we design our programs to last an average of 8 to 10 years in order to build an effective relationship with children and their communities, we encourage sponsors to view their support as a long-term commitment.

We believe strongly in sponsorship and are grateful for the chance to work on your behalf to provide care and support for children who need it most. In the event that you do have to cancel your sponsorship, please call us at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Engagement Questions:

Can I write to my sponsored child?
Absolutely! Exchanging letters with your sponsored child helps build a caring connection that deepens the impact of our work. We encourage you to correspond with your sponsored child. Considering the costs to translate and transport letters back and forth to a child’s community, we recommend that you send no more than three or four letters a year. See the journey of a letter here.

It’s best to limit the number of people who correspond with the child to avoid overwhelming or confusing them. Writing a letter on behalf of your family, or even having your child/grandchild correspond, is a great way to get your family involved in the experience, help them learn more about the world and share in the joy of helping others.

We’ll also occasionally provide you with colorful greeting cards that you can personalize and send to your sponsored child in recognition of special occasions, such as his or her birthday. Children love reading your messages, so please be on the lookout for these special mailings. If you’re a lifeline sponsor, your card will be sent to one of the children in your sponsorship community.

If you’re sending an email through your online account, this information will be filled in for you. If you can’t find the info you need, you can retrieve it through your online account or by contacting our donor services team at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5am (EST).

Please note: To protect sponsored children and sponsors like you, Save the Children does not allow unmonitored communication between a child and his/her sponsor. All communications must be sent through our country office staff, so they can check for appropriateness and manage translations and delivery, as necessary. Please do not share personal contact information, like last names, home addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, social media accounts, school name or anything else that could be used to identify or locate you or your sponsored child.

How long does it take to receive a reply from my sponsored child?
Letter replies can take several months to reach you depending on local mail infrastructure, translation time and your child’s literacy level, so please be patient. Keep in mind that letters might have to take multiple trains, planes, automobiles and even bikes to reach your sponsored child, and just as many forms of transportation for their reply to reach you! Additional delays can happen during seasons when children may be observing a school break or holiday. See the journey of a letter here.

But the wait will always be worth it! Your sponsored child will cherish your letters for years to come, and we’re sure you’ll cherish theirs just the same.

If you write an email, the delivery time will be substantially shorter, but it still involves translating and delivering, so we also recommend limiting emails to about three or four a year.

Where do I send my letters?
Please send your letters to the Save the Children office of the country where your sponsored child lives. Your welcome kit includes this information. You can also find your sponsored child's country office mailing address below.

How much will postage cost?
Postage costs will vary based on the size and weight of your letter or package and the destination. Please visit the USPS website at https://postcalc.usps.com/ to calculate postage.

Of course, sending an email is free! Consider emailing your child through your online account. Your email message will be printed, translated and delivered by our country office staff to your sponsored child.

Can I email my sponsored child?
Yes, you can email your sponsored child through your online account (see “Write to me”). Your email message will be printed, translated and delivered directly to your sponsored child by our country office staff, which means your child still has a written keepsake to treasure. Although administrative costs are lower than for letters, we still recommend that you send no more than three or four emails a year.

You’ll receive a written reply via postal mail from your sponsored child. If you prefer to receive email replies from your child, please email the country office and provide your preferences.

Email is a quick and easy way to communicate with your sponsored child. And because costs are lower, it means your sponsorship support goes farther for children.

What do I write to my sponsored child?
Because many sponsored children are developing their reading and writing skills, short and thoughtful messages are best. To get to know your sponsored child, you may wish to ask about his or her daily life, family and friends – and share the same about yourself. As time goes on, and your relationship grows, you may want to ask about family or community traditions and significant events in your sponsored child’s life. Please avoid discussing any political or religious matters or other culturally sensitive topics.

Overall, your messages serve as a special reminder that you care about your sponsored child. We know from many years of experience that sponsored children cherish their sponsor’s letters, often for years to come. Click here for letter writing tips that you can print and keep as a handy resource.

What if my sponsored child is too young to write?
If you sponsor a younger child, you’ll receive updates about your child from a special person in his or her life – typically, a family member, teacher or caregiver. As time goes on, you’ll experience the joy of seeing your child develop through the letters and drawings he or she sends you – knowing that your sponsorship support and encouragement is helping make your child’s development a reality!

What if my sponsored child doesn’t write well?
Some kids are shy. Others have never written a letter before. And in the disadvantaged places where we work, some children have missed out on years of schooling – that is, until Save the Children started working in the community. So don’t worry if your child’s letter isn’t as long or as detailed as you would expect. Be assured that your sponsorship is making a profound difference in your child’s life – an investment in his or her future.

Do I have to write to my child to receive letters?
When you first sign up for an individual child sponsorship, you will receive an introductory letter from your child. Each year following, your sponsored child will send an annual letter updating you on what is happening in his or her life. If you wish to communicate with your child more regularly, we encourage you to write back to your child’s letters – three or four letters a year is recommended – to further develop your relationship. Your sponsored child will love to hear from you!

Can I send a gift to my sponsored child?
Modest gifts, such as coloring books and crayons, may be sent to sponsored children. All contents must be unwrapped and fit into one 10” x 13” mailer envelope, and each individual gift should not exceed $10 in value. Expensive gifts can be lost in unreliable postal systems and may incur additional costs to retrieve from customs.

Also, please send only gifts that can be shared among children. Individual gifts can sometimes cause jealousy and/or create tension in the economically deprived areas where we work. In many countries, the sharing of property or gifts is the cultural norm, so we want to ensure we respect local traditions.

Please note: For security purposes, any gift packages not meeting the above criteria will not be able to be delivered to your sponsored child. However, we will donate them to others in need to ensure your generosity still has a positive impact.

Here’s a list of appropriate gift ideas:

Photos

Stickers

Activity sheets

Coloring books

Crayons

Playing cards

Small books

Flashcards

These types of gifts are not permitted:

Apparel (e.g., clothes, coats, shoes)

Accessories (e.g., hats, scarves, ties)

Breakables (e.g., glass items and dishware)

Food or candy

Large, extravagant gifts (e.g., bikes, skateboards)

Liquids (e.g., bubbles, perfume, toothpaste)

Personal hygiene products (e.g., body wash, makeup, soap)

Money

If you aren’t sure if an item is an appropriate gift, please contact your donor services team at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Can I send cash directly to my sponsored child?
Because cash can make children a target in some of the economically deprived areas where we work, sponsors cannot send money directly to children. However, additional monetary gifts to support our work in your child’s community are always appreciated. These valuable funds will support the programs that benefit your sponsored child and his or her community – helping us to make an even bigger difference in their lives and futures.

If you wish to help your sponsored child’s community with an extra gift, please visit the “My Child Sponsorship” page of your online account and click “Make an Additional Gift.” You can also contact your donor services team at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Can I visit my sponsored child?
Yes! For many sponsors, visiting a sponsored child is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can see, firsthand, the tremendous impact of your support, while making an even closer personal connection with your sponsored child and his or her community.

In order ensure a positive visit experience for you, your sponsored child and our local staff, we require:

60 days advance notice before your proposed arrival date

Submission of the following required forms no later than 60 days before proposed arrival date:

To discuss a potential trip and obtain the necessary forms, contact our visit team at ChildVisits@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). This includes lifeline and program sponsors.

Can I share my sponsored child’s story via social media?
In today’s digital age, children are exposed to new risks. For your sponsored child’s protection, please do not post any information online, including on social media, that could be used to identify or locate your child, such as last name, school name, community name or child id. If you sponsor a child outside of the U.S., you may share his or her photo provided you do so while respecting the dignity of the child. But for the U.S., we ask that you refrain from sharing photos.

Of course, regardless of where you sponsor, we do encourage you to post about your sponsorship experience on social media. For example, you can say, “I just received a letter today from Anna, my adorable sponsored child from Uganda! She’s learning to read and loves to play jump rope.” Or, “Becoming a child sponsor has meant the world to me. I love knowing a child will have a better life and a brighter future because of me.” You might even encourage others to become sponsors, too!

These steps are essential to ensuring the safety of sponsored children and your safety as a sponsor. We take child safety very seriously, and any breaches of our policy may result in the sponsorship being terminated.

What do I do if my sponsored child contacts me directly?
If you are contacted by your sponsored child or his or her family outside of communications sent by Save the Children, we ask that you refrain from responding and immediately contact our donor services team at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-7283, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

How does Save the Children protect the identity of sponsors?
To protect the identity of our sponsors, we don’t share your contact information directly with your sponsored child.

If you are contacted by your sponsored child, his or her family or a community member outside of communications sent by Save the Children, we ask that you not respond and immediately contact your donor services team at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Our utmost goal is to protect the children we serve, as well as the generous sponsors who make our work possible. Thank you for partnering with us to achieve this goal.

Financial Questions:

How much does child sponsorship cost?
You can become a child sponsor for just $36 a month (or about a dollar a day). We have found that the most effective way to help children is by combining your contributions with those of other sponsors, rather than giving them directly to your sponsored child. Your generous monthly support will go towards helping improve the lives of children and families in your sponsorship community through our innovative programs. Your sponsorship is truly an investment in children’s lives and futures!

If you can afford to provide support of more than $36 a month, or you can sponsor multiple children, you’ll help us achieve even more and ensure the long-term sustainability of our child sponsorship programs. If you’re interested in increasing your support on behalf of yourself, your family or your organization, please contact our donor services team at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Is my support tax deductible?
Yes. When you sponsor a child (individual, lifeline or program), you will have access to an online history of your recurring giving. For specific, tax-related questions about your charitable giving, we encourage you to contact your tax advisor.

How will my child sponsorship support be used?
Your child sponsorship support gives children a healthy start in life and continues to support them as they learn and grow in a safe, supportive environment. We work hand-in-hand with children, families and communities to develop innovative, sustainable solutions that meet the unique needs of children in that community.

The most effective way to help children is by combining your contributions with those of other sponsors, rather than giving them directly to your sponsored child. Your generous monthly support will go towards helping improve the lives of children and families in your sponsorship community through our innovative programs. Your sponsorship is truly an investment in children’s lives and futures!

What’s the best way to pay for my sponsorship?
You can pay for your sponsorship in a variety of ways, including through a bank transfer, recurring credit card gift, wire transfer or personal check. We recommend setting up an automatic (or recurring) bank transfer, because it saves us on the significant processing fees associated with credit card and check payments. We want to ensure as much of your support as possible goes to the children who need it most.

How do I update my credit card number?
You can update your credit card number by logging into your online account and clicking “Manage My Giving.” From there you can find your sponsorship gifts on the right column and can update your credit card number by selecting “Update Credit Card”. If you need assistance, call our donor services team at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). To ensure the security of your information, we do not recommend sending credit card information over email.

How will I be notified if my support is interrupted?
If your sponsorship contribution is unable to be processed (when, for example, your credit card account number changes), you will first receive a notification letter by mail and then a printed statement each month. In addition, you will receive an email or mobile alert and a phone call from a donor services representative to help you update your payment information.

How do I change from monthly support to annual or quarterly support?
Your donor services team can assist in changing your contribution frequency and can be reached at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5p, (EST).

Payment schedules can be set monthly, quarterly or annually based on your preference.

How do I increase my sponsorship support?
If you’re ready to provide even more support to your sponsored child and his or her community, you can easily update your contribution amount online in the “My Giving” section of your online account. Your donor services team is also happy to assist you and can be reached at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST).

Where can I find Save the Children’s financial information?
Save the Children has a proven track record of program responsibility and fiscal accountability. You can be assured that Save the Children uses the valuable resources sponsors provide in the most efficient, cost-effective ways possible.

Our independently audited financial statements consistently show that nearly 9 out of every 10 dollars we spend goes to programs and services for children and families in need. Click here for more financial information.

Changes in Sponsorship:

Will I always be sponsoring the same child?
We work in real communities, with real families, in oftentimes difficult situations. We strive to provide a safe environment for children to learn, grow and play, but sometimes situations change and children have to leave our programs – for example, because the family has moved to a new home in another community. If your child leaves our sponsorship program, your sponsorship will be moved to a new child, so that you can continue helping children in need. Your new sponsorship signifies an important part of our ongoing work and is a sign that we’re reaching even more children, families and communities in need with our sustainable programs. You’ll also have the opportunity to send a goodbye letter to your previously sponsored child. Saying goodbye can be hard, but a letter can help bring a sense of closure to your relationship and let your child know that your care doesn’t end with the program. We’ll make every effort to deliver your letter.

We sincerely hope you’ll see this move as an opportunity to say hello and be a friend and champion to your new child. If you would prefer to sponsor a child other than the one we’ve chosen for you, you can call us at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, (EST). The child we had assigned will continue to benefit from our programs and will become eligible for sponsorship by someone else as generous and kind-hearted as you.

What happens when Save the Children moves out of a community?
Save the Children’s sponsorship programs are structured to remain in a community for 8 to 10 years. This long-term commitment allows us to thoroughly assess the community’s needs and deliver successful sponsorship programs that achieve lasting results. When our teams transition out of a community, we work to carefully transfer ownership of our programs to local community members, so children can continue benefiting for many years to come. This model allows us to move on to help children in other communities, while ensuring our established programs continue.

What happens when my child grows up?
There will come a time when your sponsored child grows up and “graduates” from Save the Children’s sponsorship program. At that point, we’ll transfer your sponsorship to a different child, so you can continue to create lasting, positive change for children in need. You will be notified via postal mail when such a change takes place and introduced to your new sponsored child. You’ll also have the opportunity to send a goodbye letter to your previously sponsored child. Saying goodbye can be hard, but a letter can help bring a sense of closure to your relationship and let your child know that your care doesn’t end with the program. We’ll make every effort to deliver your letter.

If you would prefer to sponsor a child other than the one we’ve chosen for you, you can call us at 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5p, (EST). The child we had assigned will continue to benefit from our programs and will become eligible for sponsorship by someone else as generous and kind-hearted as you.

Can I stay in touch with my sponsored child if he or she is no longer in the program?
Yes. You can maintain contact with your previously sponsored child if you wish, as long as the child and his or her family agree. Contact your donor services team at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST) to receive the necessary release forms. Keep in mind that once the child is no longer enrolled in our programs, we’ll be unable to assist with translating and delivery of letters.

If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or need additional help, our donor services team will be happy to assist you with anything you may need. Contact us at supportercare@savechildren.org or 1-800-728-3843, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (EST). As an existing sponsor, you can also manage your account through our website.

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